Green Ammonia Demonstration Launched in Bulandshahr to Evaluate Sustainable Nitrogen Management in Agriculture

29 October 2026, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh

A field demonstration of green ammonia was launched at Kahira village, Dariyapur, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, under the ICAR Green Ammonia Project to scientifically assess its potential for improving nitrogen-use efficiency and crop productivity. The project is being implemented across seven districts of Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of ICAR–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone III, Kanpur, in collaboration with ICAR–Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Meerut.

Dr Sunil Kumar, Director, ICAR–IIFSR, Meerut; Dr. Raghwendra Singh, Director, ICAR–ATARI, Kanpur; and Dr. Reshu Singh, Senior Scientist and Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Bulandshahr, attended the launch programme along with other dignitaries, farmers and scientists from KVK Bulandshahr and nearby KVKs. Discussions focused on the application technology, its potential benefits for agriculture and the prospects of green ammonia for improving nitrogen management under field conditions.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sunil Kumar Singh explained that green ammonia is produced using hydrogen generated through renewable energy-based processes, generally combined with nitrogen separated from the air. Unlike conventional ammonia production, which primarily relies on fossil fuels, green ammonia has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with ammonia manufacturing. As ammonia is an important source of nitrogen for fertilizer production, its application in agriculture is being evaluated to identify more efficient and sustainable approaches to crop nutrition.

Dr Raghwendra Singh explained that the demonstration would evaluate green ammonia as a potential alternative to conventional urea-based nitrogen management. Specialised equipment is used to place ammonia beneath the soil surface at a prescribed depth, making nitrogen available within the crop root zone. The approach will be assessed for its potential to improve nitrogen-use efficiency and reduce nutrient losses. He also highlighted the importance of appropriate equipment, trained operators and strict safety precautions during handling and application.

Under the project, KVK scientists will systematically monitor crop growth, yield, nitrogen-use efficiency, fertilizer requirements and cultivation costs at the demonstration sites. The results will be compared with conventional urea-based nitrogen management to assess the agronomic and economic performance of the technology under local farming conditions.

The demonstration marks a step towards the scientific evaluation of innovative nitrogen management practices under diverse agricultural conditions. Its findings are expected to help determine the suitability of green ammonia across different cropping systems and contribute to efforts towards sustainable, resource-efficient agriculture.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone III, Kanpur)